Ogcocephalidae
Encyclopedia
Ogcocephalidae is a family of bottom-dwelling, specially adapted fish. They are sometimes referred to as batfishes or anglerfishes. They are found in deep, lightless waters of the Atlantic, Indian
and western Pacific Ocean
s.
They are laterally compressed fishes similar in appearance to rays
, with a large circular, triangular, or box-shaped (in Coelophrys) head and a small tail. The largest members of the family are about 50 centimetres (19.7 in) in length. The illicium
(a modified dorsal fin
ray on the front of the head, that supports the esca, a bulbous lure) can be retracted into an illicial cavity above the mouth. The esca is not luminous as in most other groups of anglerfishes, but secretes a fluid that is hypothesized to act as a chemical lure, attracting prey. Analysis of their stomach contents indicates that batfishes feed on fish, crustaceans, and polychaete
worms.
They are bottom-dwelling fishes, mostly found on the continental slope at depths between 200 metres (656.2 ft) and 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft). However, some New World
genera live in much shallower coastal waters and river estuaries.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and western Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
s.
They are laterally compressed fishes similar in appearance to rays
Batoidea
Batoidea is a superorder of cartilaginous fish commonly known as rays and skates, containing more than 500 described species in thirteen families...
, with a large circular, triangular, or box-shaped (in Coelophrys) head and a small tail. The largest members of the family are about 50 centimetres (19.7 in) in length. The illicium
Illicium
Illicium is a genus of flowering plants containing 42 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees, in family Schisandraceae. The species are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern and southeastern Asia, southeastern North America, and the West Indies.Selected species*Illicium...
(a modified dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
ray on the front of the head, that supports the esca, a bulbous lure) can be retracted into an illicial cavity above the mouth. The esca is not luminous as in most other groups of anglerfishes, but secretes a fluid that is hypothesized to act as a chemical lure, attracting prey. Analysis of their stomach contents indicates that batfishes feed on fish, crustaceans, and polychaete
Polychaete
The Polychaeta or polychaetes are a class of annelid worms, generally marine. Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called chaetae, which are made of chitin. Indeed, polychaetes are sometimes referred to as bristle worms. More than 10,000...
worms.
They are bottom-dwelling fishes, mostly found on the continental slope at depths between 200 metres (656.2 ft) and 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft). However, some New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
genera live in much shallower coastal waters and river estuaries.
Species
There are 66 species in ten genera:- Genus CoelophrysCoelophrysCoelophrys is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Coelophrys arca Smith & Radcliffe, 1912.* Coelophrys bradburyae Endo & Shinohara, 1999.* Coelophrys brevicaudata Brauer, 1902....
: 6 species - Genus DibranchusDibranchusDibranchus is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Dibranchus accinctus Bradbury, 1999.* Atlantic batfish, Dibranchus atlanticus Peters, 1876.* Dibranchus cracens Bradbury, McCosker & Long, 1999....
: 14 species - Genus HalicmetusHalicmetusHalicmetus is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Halicmetus reticulatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912.* Halicmetus ruber Alcock, 1891....
: 2 species - Genus HalieutaeaHalieutaeaHalieutaea is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Spiny sea bat, Halieutaea brevicauda Ogilby, 1910.* Halieutaea coccinea Alcock, 1889.* Circular seabat, Halieutaea fitzsimonsi ....
: 9 species - Genus HalieutichthysHalieutichthysHalieutichthys is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Halieutichthys aculeatus - pancake batfish* Halieutichthys bispinosus Ho, Chakrabarty & Sparks, 2010...
: 3 species - Genus HalieutopsisHalieutopsisHalieutopsis is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Halieutopsis andriashevi Bradbury, 1988.* Halieutopsis bathyoreos Bradbury, 1988.* Halieutopsis galatea Bradbury, 1988.* Halieutopsis ingerorum Bradbury, 1988....
: 10 species - Genus MalthopsisMalthopsisMalthtopsis is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Malthopsis annulifera Tanaka, 1908.* Malthopsis gnoma Bradbury, 1998.* Malthopsis jordani Gilbert, 1905.* Longnose seabat, Malthopsis lutea Alcock, 1891....
: 6 species - Genus OgcocephalusOgcocephalusOgcocephalus is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Longnose batfish, Ogcocephalus corniger Bradbury, 1980.* Ogcocephalus cubifrons .* Red-lipped batfish, Ogcocephalus darwini Hubbs, 1958....
: 13 species - Genus SolocisquamaSolocisquamaSolocisquama is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:* Solocisquama carinata Bradbury, 1999.* Solocisquama erythrina .* Solocisquama stellulata ....
: 3 species - Genus ZalieutesZalieutesZalieutes is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.-Species:** Roundel batfish, Zalieutes elater .** Tricorn batfish, Zalieutes mcgintyi ....
: 2 species